The chronological framework of this research covers the period from the mid-20th to the early 21st century. The geography of the study includes the areas of traditional residence of Karelians within the modern administrative borders of Russia: the Republic of Karelia, the Leningrad Oblast (Tikhvin District) and the Tver Oblast (Vesyegonsk, Likhoslavl and other districts). The purpose of the presented research is a comprehensive study of linguoculturological data on the image of the wind in the mythological views of Karelians based on the material of folk medicine. The study was conducted using the comparative method, which involves comparing and contrasting linguistic data and information on the traditions, rituals, and beliefs of various groups of Karelians, peoples closely related to Karelians — Veps and Finns, as well as unrelated peoples — Russians. At present, the studies involving the linguistic and ethnographic aspects of minority peoples are topical. The scientific novelty of this research is due to the poorly studied mythological ideas of Karelians about the element in question, as well as the lack of research on the motives for naming diseases, the source of which is wind. The main result was the determination of the significance of wind in folk medicine: negative (source of diseases) and positive (treatment of diseases according to the principle of “like is cured by like”, sending the disease to go to the wind) connotations were identified. To cure an ailment from the wind, the power of a healer was often used. The treatment, as a rule, took place through spells that were pronounced simultaneously with various manipulations aimed at recovery.

Keywords: meteorological name wind, Karelian beliefs, diseases, nomination, methods of healing, traditional Karelian culture.

 

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Accepted: 26.02.2025

Article is published: 15.06.2025